A construction permit is required for all work that is not considered minor work. Jobs such as reroofing, siding, water heater and boiler replacement, as well as any renovations, new electrical or plumbing work, structural changes, etc… require a permit. Work such as house painting, replacement of roof drainage systems and repairs or replacement of less than 25% of roofing are a few examples of minor work. For questions about construction permits, please contact the Building Department at (973) 378-7715 ext. 7700.

When your permit application is ready to be picked up and paid for, you will be contacted immediately. We work to process all permit applications as promptly as possible. If you have not been contacted, your permit application is still in the review process. When there are errors on the process, you will be contacted by our office.

No work can begin until a yellow place card is presented. This means that all plans and applications have been approved, and all fees have been paid. The rare exception is if it’s an emergency and the resident is without hot water or heat. In this occasion, work may begin prior to the permit being issued, however the Building Department office must be notified and an application must be submitted within 48 hours.

Inspections for issued permits are made mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please click here to see our inspection schedule. All inspections are scheduled for the time available when the caller contacts the office. Messages left on voicemail will not be scheduled. Specific appointments will not be made. A time frame on the day of inspection is all that can be provided.

The owner or his/her agent, a licensed engineer, architect, or plumbing, electrical or other contractor employed in connection with the proposed work can apply for a permit. If the application is by a person other than the owner in fee, it shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the owner or the authorized person making the application, that the proposed work is authorized by the owner in fee, and that the applicant is authorized to make such application. All issued permits shall remain the property of the owner even if the application was made by a contractor or authorized agent.

It depends on what type of work is involved. State law requires that the Building Department review your application within twenty (20) working days of receipt. If the permit requires zoning approval, the Zoning Official has ten (10) working days for her/his approval prior to being reviewed by the building officials. Smaller projects may not require as much time.

On weekdays between 7:30 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.; Saturdays between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., or between 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. when the work is being done by an occupant owner of the premises; Sundays between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., or between 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. when the work is being done by an occupant owner of the premises.

Yes, if you are the owner occupant of a single family home you can be your own contractor. You will want to contact the building department to find out if any permits are required for the work you are doing and if so, you can complete the permit as a homeowner, and (if needed) prepare your own plans. Plans for multiple family dwellings and commercial properties require an architect's seal.

No; you need to contact your mortgage company or attorney who did your property closing. You might also check your title insurance papers for an attached copy of your survey. The Building Department would only have a copy of your survey if you did work on the property in the past that required a copy of the document. There are no other Township or County departments that keep your survey on file.

Yes. In order to find out if there is/was an oil storage tank on the property you should complete an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) form in the Municipal Clerk's office in Town Hall. The Building Department cannot give property information to a person who does not own the property.

Once the OPRA request has been received by the Clerk's office, they will send it to our office; within seven (7) business days we will advise you if we have records available for your review. There is only a fee if you request printed copies of records.